WASHINGTON — The authors of an independent, Pentagon-commissioned assessment of the Afghan National Security Forces concluded that current U.S. and NATO plans for the post-2014 ANSF are woefully inadequate to prevent a major deterioration in the Afghanistan security environment.
The study, which was published Thursday, was conducted by CNA, a think tank based in Alexandria, Va. The Defense Department requested the review under Congressional mandate.
Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said the Pentagon has received the report and DOD officials are in the process of reviewing it.
“There’s no doubt that the work that CNA has done here will help inform decision-makers as we get close to the end of the year,” Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon.
The CNA analysts issued a dire warning about what will happen in Afghanistan after 2014 if current plans remain in place.
“In the likely 2015-2018 security environment, the ANSF will require a total security force of about 373,300 personnel [including 29,100 Afghan Local Police] in order to provide basic security for the country, and cope with the Taliban insurgency and low-level al-Qaida threat,” according to the report’s authors.
That force level is 44 percent higher than the one agreed upon by political leaders at the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago. Alliance plans call for 258,500 [including 30,000 Afghan Local Police] in that time frame. There are currently 382,000 ANSF.
“Proceeding with the drawdown of the ANSF as announced at the Chicago Summit will put the current U.S. policy goal for Afghanistan at risk,” the report said.
The CNA analysts noted that their conclusion is based on the assumption that the insurgent threat would increase post-2014, which differs from the alliance assumption in 2012 that the insurgency would be diminished by that point.
CNA estimated that the annual cost of sustaining a 373,400-strong force would be $5-6 billion per year at a time of budget constraints for the Pentagon and the U.S. government as a whole. The projected annual cost of maintaining a base force of 228,500 ANSF [not including the 30,000 Afghan Local Police], as envisioned by NATO, is $4.1 billion per year.
WASHINGTON — Facing fiscal constraints, the Defense Department will try to preserve high-tech warfare capabilities while cutting people and platforms and curbing the growth of pay and benefits, according to a budget preview unveiled by Pentagon officials Monday.
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel suggested next year’s budget will have historic implications.
“As we end our combat mission in Afghanistan, this will be the first budget to fully reflect the transition DOD is making after 13 years of war — the longest conflict in our nation’s history … The choices ahead will define our defense institutions for the years to come,” he told reporters at the Pentagon.
Caps on spending stemming from recent Congressional budget agreements have forced DOD to make cuts to force structure and lower personnel costs in order to preserve high-priority programs and maintain sufficient levels of readiness to meet future threats, Hagel said.
For Fiscal 2015, the law limits DOD spending to $496 billion — $45 billion less for the year than projected in President Barack Obama’s five-year forecast last year. And the threat of sequestration in future years gives further impetus to making these force adjustments, Hagel said.
“No realistic effort to find further significant savings can avoid dealing with military compensation. That includes pay and benefits for active and retired troops, both direct and in-kind,” Hagel said.
WASHINGTON — Former President George W. Bush hosted a Military Service Initiative Summit on Wednesday, and spoke about the many problems facing post-9/11 veterans and how his institute hopes to address them.
“A lot of people ask me, you know, do I miss much about being president. The answer really [is] no, [but] I do miss saluting men and women who volunteer to defend our nation during war. Many are coming home and are preparing for new missions as civilians. And I intend to salute these men and women for the rest of my life … And through the Military Service Initiative, the [George W.] Bush Institute is going to help [them],” Bush said at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.
“Since 9/11, more than 2.5 million Americans have worn the uniform … They are the 1 percent of America who kept the 99 percent safe. And we owe them and their families a deep debt of gratitude. Our country can never really fully repay our vets, but we ought to try.”
Bush said his institute’s plans have been shaped by a joint study that the organization conducted with the Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families, which he described as “one of the most comprehensive studies ever conducted of post-9/11 veterans.”
Quote by Mondobubba:
Tri,
The military budget isn't be cut to pre-WW II levels, the number of troops is what the proposal calls for. Huge difference.
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Someone remind me again that I don't have to solve everyone's problems and that's okay.
*stupid only child's disease*
Quote by Raine:Do I REALLY have to post a Stuart Smally gif here?Quote by wickedpam:
Someone remind me again that I don't have to solve everyone's problems and that's okay.
*stupid only child's disease*
![]()
Obama will award Medal of Honor to 24 overlooked Army veterans
By Daniel Rothberg
February 21, 2014, 2:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- Seeking to correct a historic injustice, President Obama will award the nation's highest combat honor to two dozen veterans -- mostly Latino and Jewish -- who fought as far back as World War II but were denied the coveted Medal of Honor because of discrimination.
Only three of the recipients are still alive.
The campaign to issue the awards began in 2002 when Congress passed the Defense Authorization Act, which prompted a review of Latino and Jewish service members who had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest honor, but not the Medal of Honor.
After reviewing about 600 records from Dec. 1941 to Dec. 2001, the Pentagon discovered 19 Latino and Jewish service members who deserved the Medal of Honor. The review also found five additional service members who had been overlooked for the honor.
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Good morning, bloggers!!!
I hope that everyone is well.
Here is a bonus story for the blog that I found a few days ago via the LA Times:Obama will award Medal of Honor to 24 overlooked Army veterans
By Daniel Rothberg
February 21, 2014, 2:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- Seeking to correct a historic injustice, President Obama will award the nation's highest combat honor to two dozen veterans -- mostly Latino and Jewish -- who fought as far back as World War II but were denied the coveted Medal of Honor because of discrimination.
Only three of the recipients are still alive.
The campaign to issue the awards began in 2002 when Congress passed the Defense Authorization Act, which prompted a review of Latino and Jewish service members who had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest honor, but not the Medal of Honor.
After reviewing about 600 records from Dec. 1941 to Dec. 2001, the Pentagon discovered 19 Latino and Jewish service members who deserved the Medal of Honor. The review also found five additional service members who had been overlooked for the honor.
Quote by Raine:Do I REALLY have to post a Stuart Smally gif here?Quote by wickedpam:
Someone remind me again that I don't have to solve everyone's problems and that's okay.
*stupid only child's disease*
![]()
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Do I REALLY have to post a Stuart Smally gif here?Quote by wickedpam:
Someone remind me again that I don't have to solve everyone's problems and that's okay.
*stupid only child's disease*
![]()
YES!
Quote by Raine:This is awesome!Quote by Will in Chicago:
Good morning, bloggers!!!
I hope that everyone is well.
Here is a bonus story for the blog that I found a few days ago via the LA Times:Obama will award Medal of Honor to 24 overlooked Army veterans
By Daniel Rothberg
February 21, 2014, 2:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- Seeking to correct a historic injustice, President Obama will award the nation's highest combat honor to two dozen veterans -- mostly Latino and Jewish -- who fought as far back as World War II but were denied the coveted Medal of Honor because of discrimination.
Only three of the recipients are still alive.
The campaign to issue the awards began in 2002 when Congress passed the Defense Authorization Act, which prompted a review of Latino and Jewish service members who had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest honor, but not the Medal of Honor.
After reviewing about 600 records from Dec. 1941 to Dec. 2001, the Pentagon discovered 19 Latino and Jewish service members who deserved the Medal of Honor. The review also found five additional service members who had been overlooked for the honor.
Quote by Scoopster:
Ahh.. just listen to the sounds of thousands of Bitcoin goons whining about giving their Monopoly money to a trash outfit like MtGox which shut down today claiming it lost all their stored 'wallets'.
And of course the price of bitcoins is currently rising. Makes total sense to me - after a unregulated fraudster outlet like MtGox goes down they need to turn all that 'lost currency' into an actual profit.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Scoopster:
Ahh.. just listen to the sounds of thousands of Bitcoin goons whining about giving their Monopoly money to a trash outfit like MtGox which shut down today claiming it lost all their stored 'wallets'.
And of course the price of bitcoins is currently rising. Makes total sense to me - after a unregulated fraudster outlet like MtGox goes down they need to turn all that 'lost currency' into an actual profit.
Boy, does that have "Ponzi Scheme" written all over it, or what? There are going to be a bunch of "investors" who are going to figure out sooner or later just what their fame money is worth.
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by BobR:Quote by Scoopster:
Ahh.. just listen to the sounds of thousands of Bitcoin goons whining about giving their Monopoly money to a trash outfit like MtGox which shut down today claiming it lost all their stored 'wallets'.
And of course the price of bitcoins is currently rising. Makes total sense to me - after a unregulated fraudster outlet like MtGox goes down they need to turn all that 'lost currency' into an actual profit.
Boy, does that have "Ponzi Scheme" written all over it, or what? There are going to be a bunch of "investors" who are going to figure out sooner or later just what their fame money is worth.
Oh it's a bit deeper than that.. it's kinda widely known that organized crime had stashed money into bitcoins and stored it on MtGox. I imagine it won't be long until the guy who founded/ran it is found in a swamp someplace with his hands cut off.
Quote by BobR:
OMG - that thing is a monstrosity.
Quote by clintster:
And in your nightmare fuel queue for tonight, the New Orleans Pelicans' new mascot: King Cake Baby
Quote by Raine:Quote by clintster:
And in your nightmare fuel queue for tonight, the New Orleans Pelicans' new mascot: King Cake Baby
Someone is going to lose a job in the Marketing department.
Quote by clintster:
And in your nightmare fuel queue for tonight, the New Orleans Pelicans' new mascot: King Cake Baby
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by clintster:
And in your nightmare fuel queue for tonight, the New Orleans Pelicans' new mascot: King Cake Baby
Clint, When I wake up in a cold sweat because of the nightmare involving a pack of wild chihuahua and King Baby Cake chasing me through the French Quarter, I shall curse your name.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by clintster:
And in your nightmare fuel queue for tonight, the New Orleans Pelicans' new mascot: King Cake Baby
Clint, When I wake up in a cold sweat because of the nightmare involving a pack of wild chihuahua and King Baby Cake chasing me through the French Quarter, I shall curse your name.![]()
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by clintster:
And in your nightmare fuel queue for tonight, the New Orleans Pelicans' new mascot: King Cake Baby
Clint, When I wake up in a cold sweat because of the nightmare involving a pack of wild chihuahua and King Baby Cake chasing me through the French Quarter, I shall curse your name.![]()
I disliked chihuahua's ever since my aunt's dog Princess came lunging at me when I was a wee lad of 6 or 7 yapping her damn fool head off. Finding out about the town in Arizona that is plagued by packs feral chihuahuas is nightmarish on its own. Combine it with King Baby Cake it is high octane bad dream fuel.
Tired of feeling groggy in the morning after a night of too much sleep? Worried that your boss is taking note of all of those late arrivals you've been having?
If oversleeping is taking control of your life, the New Orleans Pelicans are doing everything they can to help you get it back. Sit through one game at the Smoothie King Center, and you'll never go to sleep again.
Quote by Mondobubba:
I give you King Baby Cake's pal, Pierre the Pelican. Who looks nothing like a pelican.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
I give you King Baby Cake's pal, Pierre the Pelican. Who looks nothing like a pelican.
who the frick designs these damn things!
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
I give you King Baby Cake's pal, Pierre the Pelican. Who looks nothing like a pelican.
who the frick designs these damn things!
People who are tripping bear balls? Damned if I know.
Researchers recently found a new pink-nosed rodentlike marsupial that gives up a lot for sex: Males of the species mate so intensely that they die before their young are born. The little lothario in Australia's Springbrook National Park was caught with traps baited with peanut butter and oats. They dubbed it the black-tailed antechinus in a report published in the journal Zootaxa. Marsupials in this genus are promiscuous maters. Females give birth to large broods that include offspring from several fathers. To raise their chances of delivering more offspring, males mate for hours at a time with many females. This behavior causes the animals' stress hormone levels skyrocketing, which eventually results in death.